Tuesday, 11 October 2011

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani reiterated that the Government and the people of Pakistan would always stand by their Kashmiri brethren in their quest for self-determination.

He said this while addressing the AJ&K Council Session, which met here Wednesday under his chairmanship to approve the AJK budget for the year 2011-2012,

The Prime Minister said that the Kashmir cause was close to the hearts of every Pakistani and their commitment to their cause of self-determination was unwavering. Pakistan sought peaceful and negotiated resolution of the issue in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan had called for an end to the human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir. He further said that Pakistan and India stood at the crossroad of history and the Kashmiri people were looking forward to the international community to fulfill their commitment by allowing them to exercise their right to determination.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan had been making consistent efforts to project the Kashmiri cause at international forums particularly at the United Nations, the Human Rights Council and the OIC.

He said that Pakistan always consulted the Kashmiri leadership in this regard and Foreign Minister Ms Hina Rabbani Khar, during her visit to India, also took the Kashmiri leadership into confidence.

The AJK budget for the year 2011-12 was presented by Minister Incharge, Council Secretariat, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Watto in the 46th Session (Budget Session) of the AJK Council.

The Minister informed the meeting that the AJK Council’s Budget 2011-12 has been prepared in consultation with the President and Prime Minister of AJK as well as the elected members of the AJK Council.

He further informed that the Council set revenue targets of Rs. 5796.853 million for the last year(2010-11) which by the sheer efforts of the government was not only realized but a higher target Rs. 6056.313 was achieved.

About the pay scales and allowances of the government employees of AJK, the Minister said that their revision has been proposed in line with the Government of Pakistan which came into force from 1st July 2011. He also proposed to adopt the Secretariat Allowance/ Personal Allowance and one Special increment allowed by the Azad Govt. of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to its employees in the same manner and to the same extent.

The Minister put before the Council the proposed budget estimated at Rs. 8352.234 million for the year 2011-12.

The Council accorded unanimous approval to the proposed budget for AJK for the year 2011-12. The Council also approved the revised estimates of Rs. 8632.065 million for the year 2010-11

The AJK Prime Minister said that the indigenous freedom movement in the occupied Kashmir has intensified despite the unleashing of the brutal force of the Indian Security Forces. The Kashmiri people are committed to the Pakistani people and they saw no other way leading to their freedom.

The AJK Prime Minister congratulated the Prime Minister of Pakistan on holding APC, which united the whole nation on the issue of national security and demonstrated its determination to face the challenges head-on.

The Prime Minister paid tributes to Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who gave Constitution to the AJK that accorded respectable status to the people and the AJK. Prior to that a Section Officer used to run the affairs of the AJK, the Prime Minister said.